Yoo Jonghyuk's side quest #16: Compliments are good for the health. [part 13]

As the stormy wind blew away the fallen leaves off the concrete ground, a tall silhouette was wandering alone on these quiet streets brightened only by the dim light coming from the lampposts. His dark ebony locks wildly danced along with the evening gale that was also sending his black coat erratically flapping in the wind. That lonesome figure aimlessly paced around without breathing out a single word while he looked up towards the road ahead with two deep and unfathomable eyes.

His usual black attire allowed him to blend inconspicuously into the night. Yoo Jonghyuk had been quite unclear about what he was going to do after storming away from Kim Dokja's house like that. The indifferent and noisy chattering of the countless pedestrians bypassing him sounded beside him, seamlessly blending together with the sound of the low rumbling engines, creating an amalgamation of loud background noises ringing in his ears.

A night in a big metropolitan city like Seoul could never be spent in tranquility.

Driven by that cluster of chaotic and aimless thoughts, he mindlessly roamed deep inside the city. Surrounded from both sides by soaring skyscrapers adorned with many billboards and led lights, he felt suffocated for some inexplicable reasons and subconsciously hastened his pace with each step he took forward. And in the end, without even realizing it, he found himself in a pretty desolated location. The place looked like the stereotypical dark alley of a shabby neighborhood where bad things happen in movies.

However, he liked the unique quietness that separated him from the earlier bustling urban environment. The silence surrounding him helped the regressor clear up some of these uncertain thoughts inside his mind. Finally, after acknowledging how unnatural his behavior had become recently, even he was perplexed about why it had affected him so much at that moment.

But before he could have gotten further lost inside his train of thoughts, Yoo Jonghyuk was left alone contemplating the idea of being a prophet himself when he suddenly saw a bunch of hooligans appearing in front of him out of nowhere. Fortunately for them, he wasn't in the right mood to deal with anyone right now. Nevertheless, if a real fight was gonna break out, the regressor might not be able to restrain himself and snap a few unfortunate necks during the brawl.

Initially, he didn't even want to acknowledge their presence, but their timely appearance couldn't be denied. It must be destiny since they had offered themselves on a silver plate as a perfect set of punching bags for him to hit till his heart content. The regressor was already thinking about how much he can beat them until they can still be called alive but better off dead.

Not even the military's heavy artillery could faze the unperturbed black-clothed man, so let's not even talk about the 'threat' of a bunch of knives and guns pointed altogether at him by a group of petty thugs.

[Warning target too distant.]

[The connection is unstable, please decrease the distance.]

[Warning...]

The system had been spamming him with these kinds of annoying notification since he left Kim Dokja's neighborhood. Yoo Jonghyuk grumbled ominous mumbles under his breath, feeling only distraught toward this stupid system and discontent toward these annoying folks that were trying so hard to threaten him.

"What are you looking at! Give us what we want and maybe we'll leave you in one piece!"

[Warning target Kim Dok#@£d$çA!#g£R-....]

He then felt a sudden piercing electronic sound stabbing his unsuspecting eardrums. The handsome ice block only slightly twitched before growling out in dissatisfaction.

"Shut up, bastards."

Having both the system nagging in one ear and the rowdy thugs screaming in the other, these implications made him very irritable. But as if the heaven's finally decided to listen and care about their bastard son's prayers, the stream of notifications finally ceased and his ears were spared at least from one side.

[Connection lost.]

The regressor closed both eyes and silently breathed in through his nostrils, thus allowing the chilly to travel deep inside his chest. That prickly cold sensation, even if just for the slightest bit, managed to soothe his throbbing heart momentarily. And after holding in the already warmed up air for a few more seconds, he couldn't help but let go of a tired huff from his parted lips.

The bottled-up anger inside of him finally found an outlet when he lifted those heavy eyelids, revealing waves of unbridled bloodthirsty aura uncontrollably gushing out from the depts of those unfeeling black pupils.

The stillness of the surroundings seems to gradually grow more suffocating for those five unlucky individuals. They felt oppressed under such aura, as though his glare alone could condensate air and create fog.

Yoo Joonghyuk slightly lifted a corner of his mouth in a subtle smirk. Even the darkness of the night could not hide that iconic lofty attitude of his. And without even realizing it, a rare sign of impatience flashed across his eyes before his lips reverted back into the default thin line.

They are the ones who should thank the heavens if Yoo Jonghyuk decides to leave their bodies intact for a proper burial.

「 I'm fed up with this kind bullsh*t. 」

Why should people ambush him just to get this key in his possession, is Kim Dokja something everyone sought after that much? When did that bastard get so popular in the first place?

At first, the regressor was tempted to be heartless and hand over the item without putting much resistance. However, the image of a certain memory overlapped inside his mind. Yoo Jonghyuk tightly clenched both hands until knuckles turned white and nails began digging against the rough skin of the palm of his hands.

A pair of long lashes gently fluttered under the warm sunlight while his eyes squinted together into two crescents, but when the corner of his lips lifted into a foolishly smile, the illusion of a sudden looming shadow appeared and visually disrupted that peace.

He remembered how those pair of phoenix eyes gleamed like two dark pearls in the night whenever he talked to him. The memory was like a rock dropped into a lake, causing unstoppable ripples inside his mind. Grunting out in vexation, Yoo Jonghyuk clicked his tongue and narrowed his already sharp eyes while one of his eyebrows began twitching like a caterpillar without him even realizing it.

「 ... 」

"Hey! Are you listen-...!" But even before the man could finish his sentence, a hand had already grasped his neck in a tight choke. The only thing he could hear was the cold and ruthless voice of Yoo Jonghyuk reverberating inside his ears.

"Shut up."

「 This is the last favor I will do for you. 」

「 Stupid Dokja. 」

"Ugh...!"

"H-Hyung-nim!"

His eyelids flickered a little. The word that of one of the thugs blurted out in panic, triggered something inside of the regressor. A word that shouldn't have been spoken has been said. Yoo Jonghyuk forcibly yanked the groaning man away, casting him aside like a dead dog before turning his sharp gaze towards the person who screamed that fateful word.

Maybe he really should just silence them all. It isn't the first time for him anyway.

As if sensing the strong killing intent coming from the handsome cold man, goosebumps ran all over their bodies while they subconsciously began retreating a few steps back. Their foreheads were covered by a thin layer of cold sweat while the hands holding their weapons began trembling ever so slightly. However, running away wasn't an option. Lacking the courage to make the first move, they began cautiously circling around him at a safe distance. Like a pack of wolves waiting for a chance to pounce on their prey.

"I'll play with you for a bit."

The eerie voice of the regressor resounded in the chilly night. His tone, surprisingly not stoic but bemused, as if their weak stances managed to amuse him greatly. Was he losing his clarity? He didn't know, he just attacked.

His martial arts weren't filled with an elegant bearing or the sets flashy kung-fu moves portrayed in the mainstream movies, they were plain, direct and ruthless. What their eyes could only discern whenever he moved was just a deadly blurry shadow. Sure enough, each hit landed was accompanied by the crisp sound of breaking bones and wailing screams. It was just a brief exchange, but three of the five perpetrators were already down without even being able to pull the trigger to defend themselves. And if he had wanted it, a few seconds would have been more than enough for wiping them all out without leaving any evidence.

The regressor ferociously changed at the remaining two survivors. Feeling a chill creeping up their spines, they abruptly turned around but were only to meet with the empty spot where the black-clothed man used to stand still while being illuminated by the dim lamppost.

They both yelped in terror when that bloody asura appeared before them when like a vengeful ghost. Yoo Jonghyuk's pair of icy hands suddenly jumped at their heads like a spider before brutally smashing down their skulls on the ground beneath them.

"Khaak...!"

"Kuh-..!"

It was unsure if they will be alive after that hit, but this didn't concern the regressor who simply dusted off his hands as if this mayhem hadn't been his doing at all. With broken noses and bruised faces, even their mothers wouldn't recognize them anymore. The regressor slightly turned his head sideways to look at the motionless man he first trashed against the graffitied wall. There was a gun laying down beside that person, he tried to hide it but Yoo Jonghyuk caught the slight twitch of his hand when he spoke.

"I know you are awake."

"...!"

The wounded man flinched in fear. He wanted to act though but one glimpse of that freezing glare was enough to send him back breaking down in cold sweat. No, they went through great lengths to obtain a position in this organization, he won't fall like this! Shaking his head violently, he picked up the gun and fired a couple of shots aiming for the other party's vital organs.

The man seemed to rejoice when the bullets were about to land the hit, but soon, his already pale complexion turned ghastly white with fright as though he saw something utterly horrifying.

As if the regressor became a phantom, he quickly vanished before appearing unscratched beside the body of another fainted thug.

Yoo Jonghyuk casually bent down to pick up a knife off the ground. The cold blade between his fingers emitted a sharp glint under the streetlight. He skillfully twirled the knife in his hand for a bit before ruthlessly throwing it with a flick of his fingers towards the frightened man. The blade whizzed through the air and stabbed bullseye on the center of the hand holding the gun.

"Ahhh!!"

The gun fell on the ground while the wailing man grasped his bleeding hand with the other one. His bloodcurdling shrieks echoed in the night, but no one bothered to check what was happening outside. For these residents, a night without any piercing screams was a night they didn't spend in this godforsaken neighborhood.

"One who hasn't been cut by the knife..." Yoo Jonghyuk's eyes grew piercing cold again, however, the usual flat intonation of his voice changed into something more insipid, slowly dragging each word to emphasize his sentence. Unknown if these last words were spoken for the latter or himself. "Will never know it's sharpness."

The faint bloodstains on the end of his coat were easily camouflaged by the dark color of the garment. The regressor faced up towards the clear night sky, a sense of hollowness engulfed his heart as he slowly shut his eyes.

"I... I- I tell! I will tell you everything! Don't kill me!"

The man gasped in terror. Facing off Yoo Jonghyuk had been the worst mission they had ever accepted. Holding on the same belief that he was still Kim Dokja's guardian, he hoped that this set of information could be used as a worthy bargaining chip for his dear life. Acknowledging the regressor's lack of response as a silent agreement, he earnestly began unraveling all the insidious plots brewed inside Kim Sungwoo's dark pot. But unfortunately for him, his meek cooperation wasn't welcomed.

"It... It was Kim Sungwoo doings! I- I did noth-"

"Shut the hell up! Another world and you're gone!"

The ferocious roar managed to send the latter cowering in fear, too scared to even breathe.

He has intentions to cut all ties, but there was still something that bound them together. He knows he should just throw away that bothersome key.

Yoo Jonghyuk should behave like a proper 'Yoo Jonghyuk'. He doesn't need a bunch of superfluous sentiments holding him back.

He had always been independent since his childhood days. He wasn't a man with many solid principles, he can adapt depending on the situation too. This strict yet volatile lifestyle helped him survive, but at the same time, shackled him to his past.

The regressor thought that he had already thrown away his conscience a long time ago. But someone made him remember something he thought didn't exist anymore. It was an old memory with his parents, maybe the only one he can clearly recall. It was before the accident, he can remember their crouched down figures while they affectionately reminded him to be good and take good care of his sister. They promised to take them to the amusement park after returning...

「 ... 」

He had already helped him a bit but taking into consideration how Kim Dokja had helped him in the past... He might as well do the task properly to the end.

***

He could slowly hear them groaning in pain as they dragged themselves away from this place. The fear that the black-clothed man had installed in them was so overwhelming that they had abandoned all their weapons on the floor, focusing only on getting away from this dammed monster. But no one dared to utter a single word in fear of receiving another round of rough beatings. They staggered away with tails between their legs.

With his mind wandering elsewhere, Yoo Jonghyuk allowed the playful wind to do as it pleased. Unbeknownst to him, the early morning rays began quietly spreading across the city, submerging the sky with a glittering golden halo. The sun rose from behind the tall buildings in the distance accompanied by the refreshing warmth that was gradually covering the cold streets.

Baskin under an almost ephemeral hue, the twilight of the unknown horizon vaguely outlined the striking black clothes of the regressor, giving them a solemn air as they reflected the incoming light with a faint cold glow.

It was already the dawn of another day. However, only the streak of a long shadow lingered behind where he had stayed.